Mineral City, Arizona Explained

Mineral City, Arizona
Settlement Type:Ghost town
Pushpin Map:Arizona#USA
Pushpin Label:Mineral City
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Name1:Arizona
Subdivision Name2:La Paz
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1863
Extinct Title:Became part of Ehrenburg, Arizona
Extinct Date:1869
Population Total:0
Timezone:MST (no DST)
Utc Offset:-7
Coordinates:33.6119°N -114.5181°W

Mineral City was a steamboat landing and ferry crossing on the Colorado River in La Paz County, Arizona, United States from 1863 to 1866. It was located on the east bank of the Colorado River, one mile below its rival Olive City and  mile below the original site of Ehrenberg and  miles above its current site.[1]

History

In the fall of 1863, Mineral City developed as another landing for steamboats on the Colorado River, located one mile downstream from Olive City, which was the landing for the La Paz mines. This point was where the recently created freight wagon road known as the Bradshaw Trail across the desert from San Bernardino crossed the river at Bradshaw's Ferry.[1]

In 1866, a new landing was established between Olive City and Mineral City, with the support of two captains of the steamboat company of George A. Johnson & Company. Mineral City became the name of this larger settlement, resulting in the abandonment of Olive City and by 1870 La Paz also.

Mineral City received its post office in 1869, but the name of the post office, along with that of the town, was changed to Ehrenberg.[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ansac.az.gov/UserFiles/PDF/08182014/X028_FMIBurtellLingenfelterSteamboats/FMI%20Lingenfelter%20Steamboats/Steamboats%20on%20the%20Colorado%20River%201852-1916.pdf Richard E. Lingenfelter, Steamboats on the Colorado River, 1852-1916, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1978
  2. John and Lillian Theobald, Arizona Territory Post Offices & Postmasters, The Arizona Historical Foundation, Phoenix, 1961.